Izvorni znanstveni članak

https://doi.org/10.21464/fi44308

Empathy and Collective Welfare

Aleksandar Fatić orcid.org/0000-0002-5672-7183 ; Univerzitet u Beogradu,Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju, Kraljice Natalije 45, RS–11000 Beograd
Aleksandra Bulatović orcid.org/0000-0003-4273-8583 ; Univerzitet u Beogradu,Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju, Kraljice Natalije 45, RS–11000 Beograd
Simona Žikić orcid.org/0000-0001-6093-1665 ; Univerzitet Singidunum,Fakultet za medije i komunikacije, Karađorđeva 65, RS–11000 Beograd

Sažetak

The paper deals with the phenomenology of empathy as a particular attitude, but also as an ethical principle. The authors draw a distinction between two key conceptualizations of empathy in recent philosophy: (1) the one that sees empathy as a sort of “fusion” or the interpenetration of emotions of the observer, and the person who the observer empathizes with; this view of empathy derives mainly from the legacy of the Scottish Enlightenment and in particular David Hume; and (2) the one that understands empathy as the ability to sympathize with others, whilst maintaining a clear awareness that the primary emotions of the person empathized with are not our emotions, or the emotions of the observer who empathizes. The latter view of empathy is perhaps first attributable to Max Scheler, and has recently been experimentally supported by Martin Hoffman in his research on empathy in overall moral development. The authors presently argue that the latter concept presents empathy as a relational emotion (emotion that concerns the substantive emotions of other people). They distinguish between relational emotions and meta-emotions, namely the emotions we feel concerning our other emotions. Further, the authors argue that relational emotions are a foundation for sentimentalist ethics, which can support the principle of moral obligation or duty. The text goes on to show why the notion of an organic community, based on the model of a functional group whose relations do not have to be mediated by institutional processes, is in itself a favourable context for improving mental well-being and establishing resistance mechanisms that characterize the very conceptualization of mental health. The authors believe that empathy contributes to individual and collective resilience not by denying individual vulnerability, but transforming it into predispositions for leadership based on emotionality and perception, even of institutions and corporate structures, as “small societies” in which the same types of social capital as in organic communities play a key role, above all moral emotions such as trust, empathy and solidarity.

Ključne riječi

empathy; emotional infection; moral efficiency; deontology; leadership

Hrčak ID:

328754

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/328754

Datum izdavanja:

5.12.2024.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 109 *